In these dark winter days, at this 'stay at home' time, it is easy for the spirits to flag. In those hours I am grateful for my front window. through it I see a glimpse of my neighborhood, the tall, graceful maples across the street, their architecture evident in the absence of the cover of leaves. I see the apartment building across the park and wonder if they see me. A large portion of my view though, is the towering blue spruce that some kind soul planted there in the 1960's when this was a new house on the edge of town.
The spruce is a landmark for the house, provides us shade and privacy, but most importantly, is a haven to the local birds and wildlife.
Nearer to the driveway, feeders hang on a tall pole with shelled peanuts, sunflower seeds, niger seeds and whole peanuts the buffet on hand. These draw lots of activity year round. Lately I have been throwing sunflower seeds on the front porch and in the snow in front of the window as well so there is a lot of activity to watch from my perch on the couch.
The first to arrive is always a squirrel; they are particularly attained to the presence of food. The sound of peanuts hitting the driveway, even if muffled by snow, draws them in like pins to a magnet. In order to keep the squirrels busy we have set out cobs of corn, in special holders, for them. The corn keeps them, at least for a short time, away from the seeds on the ground.
The antics and acrobatics necessary to get every last kernel from those cobs have given us hours of entertainment in the watching.
And when the cobs are finished
someone will stop by and enquire if there is more
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